Into The Woods by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art comes to the Greenside at George Street venue. This production aims to present the next generation of musical theatre talent in a new production of the Stephen Sondheim classic based on some of the tales by the Brothers Grimm.
This production of Into The Woods is clearly well-rehearsed with good direction. Some of the songs were delivered better than others; for example, ‘Agony’ performed by the Princes was a highlight and was delivered well with good fun and humour in both the facial expressions and body language.
The vocals by the cast overall were generally within range for each of the cast members; however, the Enchantress did appear to struggle with some parts of the songs. The fight choreography between the Wolf and the Baker was well done, and it was clear to see the performers’ professional training in action.
There were some moments that seemed to stretch out a touch longer than was comfortable for the audience. From a technical, professional perspective, this production was polished, but there seemed to be a lack of heart within the show. There were moments where the characters could be seen through gaps in the curtains before walking on, and the entrances and exits could be worked on to tighten them up, especially where props are involved.
The connection between the cast and the audience fluctuated with moments of both strength and weakness. The best performance of the production came from the Wolf, whose body language and facial expressions were very good and clearly conveyed the message of a hungry wolf finding their prey.
Overall, this production of Into The Woods has great potential, but there are key elements that could be worked on to fully bring this classic to life in a more engaging way.
